Lions unable to put away Texans when they had the chance

Unsuccessful scoring chances late in the game spelled doom for the Lions as they fell to 4-7. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )

By Steven Braid

DETROIT — The ball looked good as it tumbled toward the uprights.

Rocketed off the leg of Detroit kicker Jason Hanson, the 47-yard field-goal attempt with less than five minutes left in overtime Thursday appeared as if it would sneak just inside the right upright.

And then … clank.

“Just started right and went right at the upright,” the 42-year-old Hanson said. “So it doesn’t matter if it hits the upright or goes wide. It’s no good.”

Just inches from snapping their eight-game Thanksgiving Day losing streak, the Lions instead entered their holiday meals kicking themselves after failing to protect leads in the third and fourth quarters.

Shades of Sunday
But it wasn’t just the defense that failed to execute. Unsuccessful scoring opportunities late in regulation and in overtime also spelled doom for the Lions as they fell to 4-7 following the Texans’ 34-31 victory at Ford Field.

“It’s a tough one,” Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “(We) had our opportunities to win it multiple times. Both teams did. It was a great football game.”

Lions defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch expressed a similar sentiment.

“You know, it’s kind of the same story,” Vanden Bosch said. “It’s just frustrating. I mean, back-to-back weeks, we had a chance to beat a really good team. But that’s not good enough because this is a really good team, (and) we’re just not playing like it right now.”

On the heels of a 24-20 loss to Green Bay on Sunday — a contest in which the Lions surrendered 10 unanswered points following a go-ahead touchdown with just over four minutes remaining — Detroit allowed the Texans to claw back from 10- and seven-point deficits in the second half.

The offense was no help, either, looking equally inept during the final quarter of regulation. On four occasions, the Lions held the ball in Texans territory, but they could muster only seven fourth-quarter points.

Coming up empty
The Lions were given a second life in overtime, marching down the field with the opening possession. But Detroit squandered an excellent scoring chance when tight end Brandon Pettigrew fumbled on the Texans’ 35-yard-line — one of three occasions the offense crossed midfield in the extra period without scoring any points.

Following Hanson’s missed field goal, the Lions allowed the Texans to drive down the field, and Shayne Graham kicked a 32-yard field goal to win the game.

“That’s just the way the NFL is, and we have got to find a way to make that one extra play,” said third-year Lions coach Jim Schwartz. “Our margins aren’t real high. We’ve played in close games, but that’s no different than anybody else in the NFL.

“The Houston Texans had a chance and found a way to make those plays today. And when we do, we’ll be on the winning side of the score.”